Tenosynovitis – causes, complaints & therapy

Symptoms and course

In the symptoms of tenosynovitis, pain occurs due to constant overload, which is noticeable along the tendon. One of the most frequently affected parts of the body is the wrist.

However, tenosynovitis can occur anywhere on the body where tendons run within a tendon sheath. In the wrist, the tendons run under high tension over the bone and therefore predominantly often lead to tenosynovitis.

Acute to chronic pain during the movement of strongly affected limbs are the predominant symptoms of tenosynovitis, which can last for days.

Pain occurs mainly during movements, but later also at rest. This also leads to local heating, swelling and blushing can also occur in tenosynovitis. Likewise, a pressure pain or a crunching noise can be signs of tenosynovitis.

When to the doctor?

If there is a suspicion of tendonitis, medical advice is required in any case. The doctor can diagnose the disease based on the typical symptoms and a physical examination and then suggest a suitable therapy. A doctor’s visit is necessary if characteristic symptoms such as redness, swelling or overheating of the joints are noticed. Crunching noises during movement or pressure indicate at least an ailment that needs to be clarified. The clearest symptom is stabbing pain in the wrist area, often associated with restricted movement and sensory disturbances.

People who perform monotonous movements (such as typing on the keyboard) are particularly susceptible to developing tendonitis. The same applies if the symptoms are preceded by an infection with Borrelia or streptococci . People with a rheumatic disease or cases of a rheumatic disease in the family should consult their family doctor if the symptoms are mentioned. Other contact persons are the rheumatologist or an orthopaedist. Chronically ill people should report the symptoms to the responsible specialist.

Diagnosis

The initial consultation already provides initial information as to whether tendonitis is present. The typical pulling pain, which gets stronger especially with movements or, in the case of inflammation in the hand area, does not allow the finder to stretch out, is characteristic of this disease. In addition, the doctor tries to turn the affected joint, which is no longer possible or only possible with great pain. In addition, the area is red and swollen at an advanced stage.

To localize the inflammation, an Ultrasound Application can be performed, in which not only the inflammation itself, but also characteristic accumulation of fluid is visible. The actual extent of the tendonitis and the exact starting point can only be clearly determined with an MRI . However, this is the last method considered if further investigations have ruled out other causes of inflammation. A different decision must be made if the pain has already become chronic so that the spread becomes visible.

Due to the high costs and exposure to radiation in the imaging process, differential diagnostics is of great importance. Due to the different treatment consequences and in particular the medication used, rheumatic causes or arthrosis must be ruled out. In rheumatoid arthritis, in addition to the increased blood sedimentation typical of the inflammation, the rheumatoid factor in the blood is also increased. In the case of Arthrosis , on the other hand, no inflammation is detectable and in the case of tendonitis no rheumatoid factor.

Complications

Under optimal conditions, most patients experience a favorable course of the disease with tendonitis. Nevertheless, if medical care is refused or treatment is started late, there is a risk of various complications.

The disease can take a chronic course of development. This means that there are permanent complaints that, in addition to the physical symptoms, lead to mental and emotional impairments. In severe cases, there is a risk of psychological complications.

A chronic course is often linked to a complex mechanism that is not always easy to understand. The complaints can be linked to suboptimal working conditions at the workplace, such as at the desk at home, the shoes worn, the posture and the organization of the daily routine. The organism needs sufficient rest phases for regeneration, which must be tailored to the needs of the individual. In everyday life, reflexive movements and activities can always lead to minor injuries to the tendons, which are usually noticed too late.

With a weakened immune system, the pathogens can multiply quickly and trigger new disorders. If the body’s own defense system cannot defend itself sufficiently, there is a delay in healing or persistent symptoms. In addition, the susceptibility to disease increases overall, so that other germs can get into the organism and spread more easily.

Treatment and therapy

In the treatment of tenosynovitis by the doctor, other causes of disease, such as rheumatism or gout, are initially excluded by a blood test. The doctor can determine by a palpation examination whether there is swelling, redness or overheating and whether there may be pressure pain in the affected area.

As an immediate measure, relief of the pain can be achieved with cooling elements. Of course, any strenuous activity must be stopped immediately and the affected part of the body should be immobilized. The doctor may apply a tight bandage and recommend an arm sling. Pain-relieving ointments can also be administered.

A cooling quark pad relieves the pain in a natural way with Natural remedies and also has an anti-inflammatory effect. To do this, 100 grams of cold low-fat quark are spread on a wooden board and then placed on the affected part of the body. The quark is now covered with a linen cloth that has previously been dipped in cold water and wrung out until it has dried.

This application can be carried out up to three times a day in acute tendonitis. Cottage cheese is a natural antibiotic that is excellent for treating tendonitis, both against the inflammation itself and with the pain of tendonitis.

Prevention

Tendonitis is triggered by recurring movements that eventually lead to overload.

Of course, many of these movements are work-related, such as the same hand movements on the computer. But the movements are also repeated regularly when working outdoors or during sports such as tennis or Dumbbell Training .It is therefore advisable to take breaks at regular intervals or to relieve the strain with appropriate bandages to prevent tendonitis.

with the hands, arms, and legs can also

Outlook and prognosis

The prognosis of tendonitis is usually good. Although the healing phase lasts several months and some patients only speak of freedom from symptoms after a long time, there is a chance of a full recovery. The muscles often have to be rebuilt in a targeted manner and the body can only be stressed gradually. Otherwise, there is a risk of the symptoms recurring if the stress is too early.

If no further complications occur, if there are no combination injuries and if the patient adheres to the medical instructions, he will have a good prognosis with a healthy immune system. If the affected region is sufficiently rested and rested, the symptoms will quickly be alleviated.

Patients at risk who have a weakened immune system must reckon with a less favorable prospect of recovery. If the organism cannot mobilize sufficient forces to kill off the pathogens, a chronic course is likely. The germs can multiply and spread further. In principle, the general susceptibility to disease for those affected also increases.

If there are other underlying diseases such as rheumatism or arthrosis, the prognosis is also less favorable. These chronic diseases have a negative impact on the healing process of tendonitis and at best lead to a delay in healing. However, a permanent impairment is documented much more frequently.